WASHINGTON, April 30 (UPI) -- Personal income, disposable income and personal consumption spending all rose for U.S. workers in March but the latter was less than expected.
Despite the economic expansion, the concern over inflation was reported disturbingly high.
Personal income increased $79.9 billion or 0.7 percent in March, disposable personal income was up $65.5 billion or 0.7 percent and personal consumption expenditures increased $24.4 billion or 0.3 percent, the U.S. Commerce Department announced.
The price index for personal consumption expenditures, including food and energy, was up 0.4 percent in March and up 2.4 percent from March 2006.
"Inflation remains worrisome," Peter Morici, a professor at the University of Maryland, said in a release.
"Higher global oil prices will continue to push up the broader measures of U.S. inflation but the Federal Reserve can do little to dampen these pressures by raising interest rates."
